Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was discussed and what decisions were taken at the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on 20 December.

Baroness Amos: The group issued a strong statement on Zimbabwe and agreed that the situation there constituted a serious and persistent violation of the Commonwealth's political values and the rule of law. CMAG added Zimbabwe to its formal agenda. The group also agreed that Pakistan should remain suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth; Fiji's suspension should be lifted, though Fiji (and Solomon Islands) should remain on the agenda so that CMAG might continue to monitor developments in these two countries; and that The Gambia be dropped from CMAG's agenda now that Decree 89 had been repealed.
	A copy of the concluding statement of the meeting has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Firearms Incidents Involving Police Personnel

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the scope and extent of the review by the Police Complaints Authority of firearms incidents involving police personnel.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Baroness to the reply I gave Lord Graham of Edmonton on 20 November, (Official Report, col. WA 123).

Political Asylum

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 4 December (WA 115), how many persons seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom have been refused bail since the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 came into effect.

Lord Rooker: I regret that the requested information is not held centrally and could be obtained only by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Firearms Consultative Committee

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is their intention to extend the life of the Firearms Consultative Committee beyond the current period ordered by Parliament.

Lord Rooker: The Government are currently awaiting publication of the Firearms Consultative Committee's (FCC's) 11th annual report and will consider the future of the committee once this has been received.

Firearms Consultative Committee

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions the Firearms Consultative Committee has met during the last two years.

Lord Rooker: The Firearms Consultative Committee has met seven times during the last two years. In addition, there were nine sub-group meetings in which members of the Firearms Consultative Committee (FCC) were involved.

European Arrest Warrant

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 12 December (WA 207), whether the European arrest warrant will empower the prosecuting authorities in another European Union state to secure the extradition of a British subject or other United Kingdom resident for allegedly uttering a xenophobic remark (a) on British soil; (b) in a non-European Union state, or (c) on the high seas.

Lord Rooker: The framework decision on the European arrest warrant provides that a state may refuse to execute a European arrest warrant if the conduct in respect of which extradition is sought occurred outside the requesting state and the requested state does not claim extra territorial jurisdiction over the conduct in question.
	We intend to give effect to this provision in the domestic legislation required to implement the European arrest warrant. It will therefore not be possible to secure extradition using the European arrest warrant in the circumstances listed.

European Arrest Warrant

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statements by the Lord Privy Seal on 17 December (HL Deb, cols. 39–41) which features of the framework decision on the European arrest warrant they agreed as binding at the Laeken European Council; and which features were left open for possible amendment by national legislatures; and
	Further to the statements by the Lord Privy Seal on 17 December (HL Deb, cols. 39–41), what powers Parliament possesses to amend or reject those features of the European framework decision on the European arrest warrant which they agreed as binding at the Laeken European Council; and
	Further to the statements by the Lord Privy Seal on 17 December (HL Deb, cols. 39–41), whether, when they agreed the framework decision on the European arrest warrant at Laeken on 14 December, they were aware that the House of Lord Select Committee on the European Union had written to the Home Office on 13 December to confirm that its scrutiny reserve remained in place; and, if so, what is the status of their commitment not to agree new laws in Brussels which remain under scrutiny by the Select Committee of either House of Parliament.

Lord Rooker: Following the Italian Government's statement on 11 December that they could accept the text of the European arrest warrant which emerged from the JHA Council on 6–7 December, COREPER II (Ambassadors) on 12 December noted provisional agreement on the text of the European arrest warrant framework decision contained in document 14867/1/01 COPEN 79 REV 1, subject to the requirement to reconsult the European Parliament and national parliamentary scrutiny reservations from five member states, including the United Kingdom. The Laeken European Council on 14–15 December welcomed this development in paragraphs 17 and 45 of its conclusions.
	The Government do not consider that this constitutes an override of the Parliamentary Scrutiny Reserve Resolution. Lord Brabazon's letter of 13 December to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office, Bob Ainsworth, following his appearance before the House of Lord Select Committee on the European Union on 12 December, appears to support this view. The letter states that, "the Decision remains subject to a number of parliamentary scrutiny reserves, including our own. This does not in our view preclude heads of Government at Laeken drawing attention to the substantial progress which has been made on the text and emphasising the importance of the European arrest warrant. As has been said it will be a 'cornerstone' of judicial co-operation".
	The text of the European arrest warrant framework decision was not formally submitted to the Laeken European Council, as the annex to the Laeken conclusions makes clear.
	The Government understand that the new opinion of the European Parliament may not now be available before February. The Council will need to consider this opinion before it can adopt the framework decision on the European arrest warrant.
	Article 34(2)(b) of the Treaty on European Union provides that framework decisions shall be binding upon the member states as to the result to be achieved but shall leave to the national authorities the choice of the form and methods and that they shall not entail direct effect. Implementing domestic legislation will therefore be required which will need to respect the framework established by the framework decision.
	The Government intend to implement the framework decision in its entirety in order to comply with their treaty obligations. This will form part of the Government's wider reform of extradition law and procedures in a Bill to be presented to Parliament shortly.
	While the framework decision establishes binding rules in many areas, in some areas it leaves it open to member states to decide whether or not to apply a provision or to take a particular course of action. For example, under Article 2(4) member states may decide whether or not to apply the dual criminality test for offences not covered under Article 2(2). Other parts of the framework decision are designed to be implemented in accordance with national law. For example, Article 13 provides that all decisions relating to the detention of an indvidual should be made "in accordance with the law of the executing Member State". It would be open to national legislatures to amend domestic implementing legislation within the confines of this discretion afforded by the Framework Decision without the member states being in breach of its obligations under the treaty.

British Grand Prix

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What further measures they will take to ensure that the Northamptonshire and Thames Valley police forces co-operate to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the British Grand Prix weekend.

Lord Rooker: I have no reason to believe that co-operation between the forces concerned is other than excellent, although clearly the police are not able to guarantee that there will be no delays to traffic at an event as popular as the British Grand Prix. The smooth flow of traffic at the Silverstone site should however be assisted by the improvements to access, circulation and parking arrangements announced last month by the promoters of this year's event, Octagon Motorsports Ltd. We understand that £10.6 million will be committed to the completion of such improvements before the Grand Prix on 7 July. I will seek confirmation from the two police forces as to the traffic management arrangements once the improvements are completed.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they last reviewed the linkages between the British Tamil Association and the proscribed terrorist organisation, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and between the latter and the International Broadcasting Corporation.

Lord Rooker: Links between the proscribed terrorist organisation the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and other organisations are kept under constant review.

Davinder Singh Bhullar

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will raise with the Government of India the case of Davinder Singh Bhullar, who reportedly has been sentenced to death.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are aware of the case of Davinder Singh Bhullar and share concerns over the use of the death penalty in India. We understand that Mr Bhullar's appeal to the sentence to the Indian Supreme Court is ongoing. We will continue to follow this case closely and are discussing with EU partners what action we can take.

Davinder Singh Bhullar

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will urge the Government of India to abolish the death penalty.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The British Government oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. We and our EU partners have repeatedly made clear to the Indian Government our concerns over the use of the death penalty. EU Troika representatives recently conducted a demarche to the Indian authorities on 23 July 2001 in order to raise the question of Indian capital punishment. We will continue to use every appropriate opportunity to press the Indian Government to abolish the death penalty.

Gerry Adams

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made representations to the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning any help they may have given to the President of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, on his visit to Cuba.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government have made no such representations to the Government of Ireland.

European Union

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 17 December (WA 10), whether they will continue to resist fuller legal personality for the European Union in the run up to and at the 2004 Intergovernmental Conference.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Various proposals for amending the EU treaties are likely to be made in the run up to the 2004 Intergovernmental Conference and these will all be given due consideration by the Government.
	Any decisions which propose a change to the treaties will require unanimity among the member states.

UNOMIG Helicopter

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they have proposed to the Security Council following the shooting down of a helicopter of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) on 8 October, killing nine unarmed people on board; and whether, assuming that it is not possible to identify the individuals responsible, they will ask the Secretary-General to publish all the evidence available on the circumstances surrounding the crime.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government strongly condemned the shooting down of the helicopter belonging to the UN Observer Mission (UNOMIG) in Georgia. The UN is currently investigating the incident and the Georgian Government have established a commission which will co-operate with the UN. The Government will support full publication of the UN findings.

Iraq

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What amount of funds administered by the United Nations for the benefit of Iraq under Resolution 986 are currently unspent; what amount is unspent within the quota allocated to the Kurdish Autonomous Region; and whether they will ask the United Kingdom authorities to speed up payments to worthwhile projects throughout the whole of the Kurdish region.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: About 3.5 billion US dollars of humanitarian funds from the UN Oil for Food (OFF) programme remains unspent by Iraq in UN accounts. A similar amount is unspent within the quota allocated to the three northern governorates.
	The UK regularly raises with the UN the issue of speeding up the placement of contracts in the north. It should also be noted that the UN Secretary General's latest report on the OFF programme (19 November 2001) criticises Iraq for obstructing the operation of the OFF programme in the north. The Government of Iraq have been responsible for delaying and/or refusing to grant the required visas for UN personnel and delaying the clearance of imports of essential supplies and equipment required for programme implementation in the north.

Iraq

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action is being taken by international agencies to prevent the expulsion of minority peoples from areas controlled by the Government of Iraq.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Although there are international agencies operating in Baghdad-controlled Iraq, they are not able adequately to monitor or influence the situation in the Kirkuk governorate where Saddam Hussein has been conducting an "arabisation" campaign. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Andreas Mavrommatis, has highlighted the situation in his report but he has been denied access to Iraq by the Government of Iraq.
	Those minorities expelled from Kirkuk are given humanitarian assistance by the Unted Nations and international NGOs on arrival in northern Iraq.

Iraq

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask the United Nations to examine ways in which the inhabitants of the Kurdish Autonomous Region could be provided with valid travel documents.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The inhabitants of northern Iraq are Iraqi citizens and it is therefore the responsibility of the Government of Iraq to issue them with passports. However, HMG are aware of the difficulties faced by those living in northern Iraq in obtaining travel documents and are exploring possible solutions to the problem with the United Nations.

Iraq

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are seeking to achieve greater binding force for the United Nations Resolution 688; and what they believe to be the best means to that end.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No. The no-fly zones were established in support of UN Resolution 688 and are justified under international law in response to a situation of overwhelming humanitarian necessity.

Middle East

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What meetings Ministers have had since 11 September with the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom to discuss the Middle East.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The French Ambassador has frequent contact with Ministers and a variety of issues are discussed on an on-going basis.

Gibraltar: Planes Diverted to Spain

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Over the last six months how many planes en route to or from Gibraltar have been diverted to Spain; and how many of these were accepted by the Spanish authorities.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: From 1 of July until 31 December, one airplane en route to Gibraltar was diverted to Spain. We do not collect figures on planes diverted en route from Gibraltar.

UK Assistance to Overseas Military and Police Forces

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assistance the United Kingdom has given to military and police forces overseas.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: UK training and assistance to militaries and police forces overseas have been provided through the ASSIST (Assistance to Support Stability with In-Service Training) scheme, the ASSIST Challenge Fund and English Language Training programme. In total £6.8 million in the financial year 2000–01 supported some 220 training and assistance projects for the military, law enforcement agencies and civilian bodies in over 65 countries, with a strong emphasis on human rights and good governance. Examples include the attachment of a UK Chief Constable to the Indonesian Police Service to help it establish a new structure and code of ethics; English language training for central and eastern Europe militaries to support their international peacekeeping capabilities and NATO candidature; and a project to help UK and South Asian police forces work together on the issue of forced marriages.
	Following a review last year of the Government's conflict prevention and resolution activities, the ASSIST budgets have been subsumed into the interdepartmental conflict prevention pools, which continue to fund ASSIST-type activities.
	The review of the ASSIST activities for 2000–01 gives more detail. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

South Midlands: Effect of the British Grand Prix

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the economic impact on the South Midlands of the British Grand Prix.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government recognise the importance of retaining the British Grand Prix. While we have made no official estimate of the scale of the economic benefits it provides, a study by the FIA (motorsport's world governing body) estimated that the 1996 Grand Prix contributed about £28 million to the South Midlands economy.

Motorsport Industry

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people are employed directly, and indirectly, in the British motorsport industry.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: A national industry survey by the Motorsport Industry Association, part funded by DTI, estimated that the British motorsport industry employs a total of 25,000 people in motorsport related engineering and a further 13,500 in motorsport related services.

Motorsport Industry

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the value to the United Kingdom economy of the British motorsport industry; and what is their estimate of the value of exports of the British motorsport industry to the United Kingdom economy.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: A recent national industry survey by the Motorsport Industry Association, part funded by DTI, estimated that the total turnover value of the British motorsport industry is approximately £4.6 billion per annum, of which the value of export earnings is approximately £2 billion per annum.

BSE

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the total cost to public funds of BSE in each of the last 10 years.

Lord Whitty: The total cost to public funds in each of the last 10 years has been:
	
		
			 Year Amount (£m) 
			 1992–93 61 
			 1993–94 66 
			 1994–95 42 
			 1995–96 31 
			 1996–97 1,548 
			 1997–98 1,017 
			 1998–99 555 
			 1999–2000 412 
			 2000–01 364 
			 2001–02 (forecast) 440 
			  
			 Total 4,536 
		
	
	Against these amounts, the UK has received some £1,765 million in BSE related payments from the EC budget.

Disposal of Fridges

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the transport of fridges to one CFC treatment plant will be sustainable in terms of increased lorry miles.

Lord Whitty: It is anticipated that there will be a network of treatment facilities throughout the UK rather than just one plant. Thus, vehicle mileage should not be significantly greater than under current arrangements.

Disposal of Fridges

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will promote the transport of fridges to the CFC treatment plant by rail.

Lord Whitty: The Government are committed to increasing the amount of all freight moved by rail where that offers economic and environmental benefits.

Disposal of Fridges

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the new fridge CFC treatment plant will be connected to the rail network in Great Britain.

Lord Whitty: While it is unlikely that fridges going to treatment plant will travel by rail, it is possible that the scrap steel from recycled fridges may be transported by rail for onward use. However, not all treatment plant will be linked to the rail network.

Uncultivated Land: EIA Regulations

The Duke of Montrose: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will define what they mean by "uncultivated land" and "semi-natural areas" in the Environmental Impact Assessment (Uncultivated Land and Semi-natural Areas) England Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3966).

Lord Whitty: The regulations do not define "uncultivated land and semi-natural areas" but, as a working guide, the intention is to apply the EIA arrangements to unimproved grassland, heath and moorland, scrubland, and wetlands. Further details will be set out in guidelines which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will publish shortly.

Animal Health Bill

Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Government will consult on the exercise of slaughter powers and other provisions of the Animal Health Bill.

Lord Whitty: The Government announced on Friday 11 January a paper for public consultation. This proposes criteria that will govern the use in England and Wales of the new slaughter powers contained in the Animal Health Bill, together with arrangements for operating the adjusted compensation scheme for infected premises.
	This document has been sent to around 200 organisations, although any interested parties are welcome to access it on Defra's website http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/current.htm and respond. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Millenium Dome

Viscount Astor: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the projected costs of the dome for the first five months of 2002.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The average monthly cost incurred by English Partnerships during 2001 for care and maintenance of the dome was about £250,000, but this is subject to a review of English Partnerships' rating liability in relation to the dome to reflect the fact that decommissioning of the dome contents has been completed in preparation for its future use. It would not be appropriate to reveal English Partnerships' working estimates of future costs while the relevant discussions continue.
	All such costs will be recovered from sale proceeds.

Road Vehicles: Television Screens

Lord Campbell of Croy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will take action to reduce dangers arising from the diversion of the attention of drivers of road vehicles caused by television screens situated in the driver's cab or by the driving seat.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Regulations already exist to control the use of a television screen or similar apparatus visible to the driver.
	Under Regulation 109 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, it is an offence to drive a motor vehicle on a road if the driver is in such a position as to be able to see, whether directly or by reflection, a television screen showing anything other than information:
	(a) about the state of the vehicle or equipment;
	(b) about the location of the vehicle and the road on which it is located;
	(c) to assist the driver to see the road adjacent to the vehicle;
	(d) to assist the driver to reach his destination.
	The police already have powers of prosecution for a breach of the regulations. On conviction, the courts may impose a fine of up to £2,500.

Rail Service Delays

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are responsible for delays in rail services in the United Kingdom.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No. Railtrack (in railway administration) is responsible for maintaining and renewing the railways infrastructure. The train operating companies (TOCs) are responsible for providing train services.

Jubilee Medals

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many official Jubilee medals were issued to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II; and how many they plan to issue for the Golden Jubilee.

Baroness Blackstone: A total of 33,423 medals were issued in the United Kingdom to commemorate the Silver Jubilee. A further 12,849 medals were ordered, at their own expense, by the Queen's realms and the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office received an allocation of 499 medals for distribution to the then dependent territories and West Indies associated states.
	It is estimated that around 375,000 medals will be issued in the United Kingdom to commemorate the Golden Jubilee. It will be for Her Majesty's realms, the overseas territories and the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to decide whether they wish to run a parallel distribution scheme.

Digital Television

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the viability of the digital terrestrial platform is fundamental to their strategy set out in their Digital Action Plan; and, if it is not, whether they will publish their assessment of how other platforms alone can deliver public policy goals.

Baroness Blackstone: The availability of digital terrestrial television is a key element of the Digital Television Action Plan published on 20 December. In taking forward the plan, the Government will not favour any one platform, equipment or service. The purpose of the action plan is to develop the strategy for achieving the Government's policy for the switch over to digital television.

Digital Television

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish their targets for the test of availability and accessibility of digital television which must be reached before analogue switch-off takes place, as percentages of defined regions, local areas and different social groups.

Baroness Blackstone: The Government have set targets for availability and accessibility of digital services only for the whole of the UK. We are considering the Viewers' Panel recommendation that the test criteria for digital switchover should not be based solely on national averages and that targets should also be set for particular regions and social groups to prevent social exclusion.

Digital Television

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What costs they take into account when assessing the affordability to individuals of the switchover from analogue to digital television.

Baroness Blackstone: When assessing the affordability of digital equipment, the Government will take into account the cost of digital receivers; the cost of installation; and the availability of cheap and simple digital receivers to convert existing analogue sets to receive free-to-air services digitally. We will also take into account the comments and recommendations on affordability to individuals made by the Viewers' Panel in its report to Government: Digital Decisions: Viewer Choice and Digital Television, published on 28 December, copies of which I am placing in the Libraries of both Houses.

Digital Television

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to supplement their digtaltv.culture website with other more traditional sources of information so that such information may be accessed by those groups, such as elderly people and families on low income, who do not have Internet access in their own homes.

Baroness Blackstone: As part of the Government's Digital Television Action Plan, published on 20 December, the Market Preparation Group will develop and implement a strategic marketing and communication plan to prepare consumers for the switchover to digital. A key element of any information campaign will be the wide dissemination of information in ways designed to reach consumers whether or not they have Internet access in their homes.
	On 18 December, in response to the condition set by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in granting approval for new BBC services, the BBC published its plan for the promotion of digital services.

National Insurance Numbers

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is a single register for all persons with national insurance numbers whether they be in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland; and, if not, what linkages exist between the registers of the different countries.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Department for Work and Pensions has responsibility for managing the Departmental Central Index computer system. All persons allocated with a national insurance number in the United Kingdom are recorded on this computer system.

National Insurance Numbers

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many valid national insurance numbers exist in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and whether these numbers are confined to citizens of the United Kingdom.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: There are approximately 83 million national insurance numbers (NINOs) currently held on the Departmental Central Index computer system, which holds records of all NINOs allocated.
	This figure can be broken down into the following categories: 47 million NINOs are used by UK residents aged over 16; 12.5 million child reference numbers for all children included in claims to child benefit; 13.5 million NINOs relating to deceased persons are retained to allow surviving spouses to claim contributory benefits; 2 million are in receipt of benefit abroad. The remaining 8 million will include UK citizens who have migrated to other countries, short-term immigrants/holiday workers and deceased persons where notification of death has not been received.

Podiatrists

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the proportion of unregistered podiatrists likely to put themselves forward for admission to the register of the Health Professions Council.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have made no such assessment.

GP Registration: Non-British Subjects

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What conditions have to be met for a non-British subject to register with a National Health Service general practitioner; whether non-British subjects who do register with a National Health Service general practitioner are issued with a National Health Service number; and whether the National Health Service central register is necessarily aware that the number has been issued to a non-British subject.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: If a non-British subject presents for registration at a general practitioner the following occurs. If they state they are to be in the country for less than three months, the GP completes a temporary services (GMS3) form. If they state they are to be resident in the country for over three months, the patient is registered with the GP using the GMS1 form. These forms are submitted by the GP to the local health authority.
	Only patients that generate a GMS1 form are issued with an NHS number by the NHS Central Register. The NHSCR always checks to see if the patient has already been previously issued with an NHS number.
	The health authority registers the patient as an immigrant, but the first acceptance record submitted to NHSCR contains only a place of birth field and a comments field (which may or may not contain the country of origin). Hence the NHSCR is not necessarily aware that the number has been issued to a non-British subject.

NHS Numbers

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What, in summary, is the main difference between the systems of National Health Service numbers used in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: In England and Wales, all patients are issued a 10-digit NHS number, made up of a unique nine-digit number plus a check digit.
	In Scotland and Northern Ireland, a separate scheme called the Community Health Index number is used. The CHI numbers are the same 10-digit format as the NHS number in England and Wales but contain the patient's date of birth and a sequence number.

Social Services Inspectorate

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Chief Social Services Inspector has responsibility for the work of the Social Services Inspectorate as well as policy responsiblity for children, older people and social care; and if so, how the independence of the Social Services Inspectorate is guaranteed.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Chief Inspector of Social Services is also the Director for Children, Older People and Social Care in the Department of Health. However, the Social Services Inspectorate is a wholly separate part of the directorate and the chief inspector has a deputy director who also acts as head of policy.

In Vitro Fertilisation: Bone Marrow Matching

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the statement by Lord Winston in The Times on 15 December that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's recent ruling authorising the use of in vitro fertilisation with genetic screening to create a child who will be a suitable bone-marrow match for his or her sibling has "given permission for the first British designer baby".

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The decision to allow, in principle, the licensing of treatment whereby an embryo is tested for its tissue compatibility with an existing sibling is a matter for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The HFEA has given the matter very careful consideration. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Government are satisfied that as a result the technique will only be used in very rare circumstances and then only subject to very strict controls.

Prostate Cancer Research

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to be able to announce the outcome of their consideration of the application for funding made by Gordon Muir of King's College Hospital for further research into differences in the rates of both incidence and mortality from prostate cancer in differing racial groups.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health has agreed in principle to fund a research proposal entitled Prostate Cancer in Ethnic Subgroups (PROCESS): A comparative study of incidence, clinical presentation and access to health care in the UK. The principal investigator for the proposed research is Dr Ben-Shlomo of the University of Bristol. Dr Gordon Muir of King's College Hosptial is a named collaborator on the research proposal. The department recently considered the researchers' responses to scientific comments made by the external peer reviewers of the research proposal and invited the researchers to expand the proposal to include some pilot work for a possible prospective study. The department is currently awaiting an expanded research proposal from the researchers.

Outpatient Appointments

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 6 December (HL Deb, col. 939), how many patients were waiting over 26 weeks for a first outpatient appointment in March 1997; and how many patients are waiting now.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: I regret that the reply I gave on 6 December at col. 939 of Hansard was incorrect.
	At the end of September 2001 (the most recent data available), the number of patients waiting over 26 weeks for a first outpatient appointment was 92,821. In March 1997 the number of patients waiting was 70,689.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Jopling: asked the Leader of the House:
	Whether in future he will ensure that, in the Minutes of Proceedings, the name of the government department from whom a reply is awaited appears alongside those Questions for Written Answer which have remained unanswered after 21 days, together with, at the end of each calendar year, a list of the number of times each department has been thus named, with the total number of days exceeding 21 which the department has caused questions to remain unanswered.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In my Answer of 19 December (Official Report, col WA 69), I explained that my office had commissioned a new computer database to help track and monitor performance on Answers to Written Questions tabled by noble Lords. The database should be operational shortly. In addition, Ministers and civil servants have been reminded of the need for timely and helpful answers to Parliamentary Questions. Before embarking down the route proposed by the noble Lord, I would prefer to wait and see if these initiatives bring about an improvement in performance.

Belfast Agreement

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's letter of 24 March 1999 to the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, whether the Commission had sought clarification or elaboration on, inter alia, the meaning of the word "consult", "advise", "scope" and "supplementary" in the paragraph of the Belfast Agreement of 1998 quoted by the Secretary of State; and whether they will publish any such correspondence received or sent.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission did not seek any clarification on the meaning of particular words in the paragraph of the Belfast Agreement of 1998 quoted by the Secretary of State. We understand that the commissioners did not feel that the words required any clarification.

Northern Ireland Bill of Rights

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What text the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is quoting on page 14 of Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, published on 4 September.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: On page 14 of the Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland consultation document published on 4 September 2001, there are five quotations. The first one is taken from the letter dated 18 May 2001 from the Prime Minister's Office to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The second is attributed to the Irish Government. The other three quotations are taken from the Belfast Agreement.

Education: "The Learning Country"

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will arrange for the responses received by the National Assembly for Wales to their consultative document The Learning Country to be placed in the Library of the House before Second Reading in this House of the Education Bill.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: I have arranged for copies of the said document to be placed in the Library today.